BK Olson, Travel Blogger

Tag: Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020

  • Back to the Sunshine State

    Back to the Sunshine State

    Who knew that 2020 would be such a wild and crazy year. Starting with wildfires in Australia, Daylight Savings Time ending on the same week as a full moon and Friday the 13th, widespread protesting against racial injustice and the Coronavirus – and we’re barely into June! 

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    Best Laid Plans

    Our original plan for the end of this trip was to join up with our kids and grandkids for six nights in Williamsburg, VA followed by two days in DC during their spring breaks. By the time we returned from Aruba, the Coronavirus was on everyone’s mind. After an email from our Congressman stating that our White House tours had been cancelled, we assumed that other items on our itinerary would soon follow suit. Shortly thereafter, the kids’ schools were set to close down so we cancelled the last ten days of our trip.

    While keeping a close eye on the ‘rona situation at hand, we continued our road trip with one week at the Vacation Village at Weston, FL. Although my brothers balked about its location being way west of their Fort Lauderdale home, we had several day trips to the Everglades pencilled in which were in that general direction so we booked it anyway. Although it was a very nice resort, we will probably never stay there again because (don’t tell them this) they were probably right – it was quite a hike from Fort Lauderdale. A lot of our time in Weston was spent making a plan while cancelling plans, but we still had some good times with my brothers.

    Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse

    One day we ventured about ten miles north of Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach to see the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse. If you can plan ahead, about once a month a shuttle boat runs from Sands Dock out to the lighthouse where you can take a tour and climb its 175 steps. Since ours was a spur-of-the-moment visit, we had to be happy with our view from Hillsboro Inlet Park. It really was a beautiful view, even if only from afar, and makes me want a re-visit when we can get up closer.

    The lighthouse has quite a complicated history, but here’s the gist:

    • 1855: Hillsboro Inlet was deemed hazardous, but no money equals no congressional action
    • 1890: Thirty-five years later a new bill stated: “This light is very much needed by vessels bound through the Florida straits into the Gulf of Mexico or to the island of Cuba. Its erection will complete the chain of lights which extend from Jupiter Inlet to Tortugas, so that the navigator can make one light before losing sight of another.”
    • 1904: Three acts of Congress and fourteen years later, funds were finally secured and three acres of land were purchased
    • 1905: A Detroit, MI company was hired to build a skeletal lighthouse (in Detroit), and a construction company in West Palm Beach was hired to build three houses, one oil house and a barracks.
    • 1906: The new lighthouse was completed, inspected, approved, disassembled and shipped via Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Mississippi River, Gulf of Mexico, around Key West, and north to the Hillsboro Inlet (4,000 nautical-miles). The lens was shipped from Paris and yet another construction company from New Orleans cleared the land, laid the foundation and re-assembled the lighthouse.
    • 1907: Fifty-two years from start to finish, Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse was finally illuminated and placed into service under the jurisdiction of the United States Lighthouse Board.

    Located between Palm Beach and Miami, Pompano Beach is often called the Heart of the Gold Coast. It’s a pretty classy neighborhood, so have someone else do the driving so you can check out the houses!

    We’re done sightseeing for the day and we’re off to Happy Hour at Thai Spice back in Fort Lauderdale. We only had (several) appetizers, but they were absolutely delicious and the drinks were awesome as well!

    Two-hour Shark Valley Tram Tour

    Next day, after my brother arrived at our very convenient location in Weston, we travelled on the Tamiami Trail (US 41) for a day trip to the Shark Valley Visitor Center. It is about an hour’s drive and as with most visitor centers, it offers educational displays, a park video and a gift shop. But this Visitor Center also offers guided tram tours (2hr tour from 9-4) and bike rentals (15-mile paved) available from Shark Valley Tram Tours, Inc. Since the trams are open-air, we were safe from the Coronavirus and had great views of the gators and birds.

    I always thought of the Everglades as a swamp, but I was immediately set straight when our guide told us the Everglades is actually a very shallow, slow-moving river that in some places is just inches deep and 50 miles wide. Here is some more information about the Everglades:

    The River of Grass

    “Sometimes called The River of Grass, it forms as water from Lake Okeechobee, which historically overflows the lake’s banks, moves onto the southern Florida plains. The waters then make their way to the Gulf of Mexico at the amazingly slow rate…

    The Everglades River is lazy, and its pace creates an ecosystem that’s friendly to about 150 species of trees, 40 species of mammals, hundreds of types of colorful birds, and an array of reptiles and amphibians, including crocodiles and alligators. It’s a unique habitat that you won’t see anywhere else on Earth.

    Everglades National Park is a big place, covering approximately 2,357 square miles, which makes the park bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware. It is the third largest park in the lower 48 states, surpassed by only Death Valley and Yellowstone.

    Everglades National Park has been designated as an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetlands of International Significance by the United Nations. So it is not only crucial to the local region and state, but recognized on an international scale.” – READ MORE

    Our Tram Tour Continues

    Pictured below are Cypress trees that thrive for up to 600 years in very wet or flooded conditions. Cypress forests often grow in the shape of a dome, with taller trees in the center, along the flow of water. If these domes are very dense, they are probably teeming with all sorts of nasty animals, so don’t think you’re safe if you find a pretty grove of trees – it’s probably just the opposite!

    All along the roadway culverts provided a hangout for alligators where they can sun on the grass or head into the water if they need cooling down.

    This was the perfect time of year to see some new families in action. All along the way were baby gators learning survival skills from mom. Baby alligators stay together in a group close to their mother for one to two years. I don’t remember our guide telling us how old these babies may be, but seeing the little ones was worth the price of admission!

    The wetlands also provide a beautiful habitat for birds of all sizes and shapes, so expect to see more of them below.

    Observation Deck

    At about the half-way point of our tour, we stopped for a break at a very cool observation deck. Its gradual swooping ramp provided easy access to panaramic views of the Everglades – for about 20 miles in each direction! We could see the road we came in on, and the water below was home to many fish with many varieties of birds staking-out the shoreline.

    70 Endangered Species

    The Everglades is home to nearly 70 endangered species, including the manatee, the Florida panther and the American crocodile. This is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist. Hundreds of different types of birds also live here so needless to say, my camera was kept pretty busy.

    Fabulous Tour

    Many of our misconceptions about the Everglades were set straight on this wonderful tour today. It was fun riding around on a tram finding gators and their babies and more beautiful birds. Our driver did her best to stop when she saw things of interest or when folks signaled that something was moving, and our guide was eager to tell stories of these fascinating wetlands.

    We didn’t plan our meals too well today and were very hungry by the time the tram tour was over. Luckily the Miccosukee Restaurant was just down the road. A very pregnant employee recommended the Indian fry bread. Actually she was rambling on and on about all the things she liked on the menu, so she must have been hungry too! The Indian fry bread was delicious.

    Up next: The Great Escape

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • The Capital City

    The Capital City

    We continue our escape from Wisconsin’s winter with two weeks in Aruba. Although the temps at home haven’t been nearly as brutal as last year, we are enjoying way more sunshine… while walking on the beach in a swimsuit… than we would be at home in February. I think these road trips are the best idea we’ve had in quite some time.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    Welcome to Paradise

    While Florida temperatures are an upgrade from Wisconsin’s, Aruba’s are paradise. It was well worth the very reasonable flights from our last stop in Fort Lauderdale to enjoy them. Every day is in the 80s and although it was definitely more windy on this trip than our last, the wind actually increases the temperature and humidity. No wind chill like at home.

    The two cruise ships on the left side of this map are heading to the island’s capital city of Oranjestad (O rang estat). The airport is located here and this bustling harbor city has a charm that shouldn’t be missed. Its blend of old and new come together beautifully for great shopping, dining and exploring.

    The bus ride to the city takes a while with many stops to pick up and drop off passengers along the way. Its air conditioning feels pretty good – especially after a day of walking in the hot sun. Since we didn’t have a pool or a sea to plop into whenever we overheated like we did at La Cabana, several times during our visits to Oranjestad we had to seek out shade and hydration – either by enjoying a great meal or just a beverage under cover in a cross breeze of the trade winds.

    On our first trip to the city we decided to get the lay of the land with an Aruba Downtown Walking Tour. Transportation to the meeting point was provided and our “local expert” made the tour both fun and educational.

    The first landmark we walked by was Aruba’s oldest house of worship – a protestant church that was built in 1846. The square bell tower and its “wings” look almost like a space shuttle ready for blastoff.

    I Heart Aruba

    On the evening we went to Carnival in It’s Party Time!, we stood by the street in front of the “I Heart Aruba” sign (below) to watch the parade. That night it looked pretty awesome all lit up, but it was covered with people posing for pictures or taking selfies. I like it better today without people crawling all over it! Just to the right of this sign is the Aruba Parliament Building. For some history about Aruba, please click on the link.

    Just past the Parliament Building is a statue of Jan Hendrik Albert Eman (below). “Henny” was pivotal in the 1986 event where Aruba obtained its separation status within the Dutch Kingdom. With that event, the Island Territory of Aruba changed to the Country of Aruba, and Henny became its first Prime Minister. Fort Zoutman can be seen in the background, just to the right of his statue.

    Queen Wilhelmina Park

    We continue our walk and cross the street to a park with two statues of historic women and the Caribbean Sea as its backdrop.

    Queen Wilhelmina Park is named after the leader of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. Wilhelmina was only ten years old when she inherited the throne after her father’s death. She was still a minor and under her mother’s regency, which is probably why the dates on the stone in front of her life-size marble statue (below) read 1898 to 1948. Including those first eight years her reign lasted nearly 58 years later – longer than any other Dutch monarch. She ruled through some very tumultuous times. Visit the link to read more about her.

    Just a few feet from Wilhelmina is a statue of Anne Frank. The statue shows Anne looking up at the sky with her wrists bound. Dedicated in 2011, it symbolizes tolerance of all religions, colors and creeds. On one of the four sides of its square base are her words in English: How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment to improve the world!

    “Make sure to take a stroll along the pedestrian pathway that meanders along the Caribbean Sea. It runs from Queen Wilhelmina Park, to Renaissance Beach and up to the boat harbor.” – READ MORE

    Fort Zoutman

    Built in 1796 for coastline protection, Fort Zoutman is the oldest building still standing in Oranjestad. The Willem III Tower was built in 1868 and served as a lighthouse and public clock tower. The light was extinguished in 1963.

    On our tour we were able to walk to the top of the tower and also catch a glimpse of what life might have been like by peering into some of the small rooms in the courtyard. Each Tuesday night in the courtyard, Fort Zoutman puts on a Bon Bini Festival (Welcome Party) where you can “enjoy the island’s history, traditionally-costumed folkloric dancers, local music, culinary specialties and local art”. We have yet to try the celebration, but it sounds like fun! Although the “Museo Historico” was closed today during our tour, we returned on another visit to give it a look.

    Fabulous Restorations

    Due to increased government interest in maintaining the island’s cultural heritage, a number of old buildings and houses have been fabulously restored. We saw many along the way, such as the Historic Town Hall – where city business is taken care of and legal marriages are performed. We were told that the inside is gorgeous, so why not schedule your dream wedding here!

    Across the street from this gorgeous building is an extremely run-down building that was for sale during our first visit. The price of that money pit was staggering, given the fact that there are no windows and the inside was basically gutted. Our local expert reminded of the three most important things when considering a home or business purchase: location, location, location. The beautiful buildings surrounding this fixer-upper may just make it worth all that money.

    A Taste of Pan Bati

    As we continued our walk, we stopped by CocoPlum Restaurant for a taste of Pan Bati. This staple of the Aruban diet is a simple, slightly sweet pancake-like bread that pairs well with many soups and stews. We thought about stopping back for dinner on their glorious patio, but they close at 4pm, so maybe next time we’ll get here earlier and have lunch (and Pan Bati).

    Hop-on Hop-off Trolley

    Between the colorfully restored landmarks and other artwork along the way, Oranjestad is really a beautiful town to explore on foot. The National Archaeological Museum of Aruba is one of many museums, and is located in the green portion of the building behind the blue horse.

    “Hop-on hop-off explore and shop in Oranjestad. Getting around the city has never been easier or more fun due to the addition of a state-of-the-art trolley. Connecting the cruise ship terminal with the center of town, the tram passes through the Main Street, now totally remodeled and an attractive pedestrian mall. The tram makes six stops at monuments and museums along the way, as well as at the key shopping areas.” – READ MORE

    Blue Horse Exhibit

    Speaking of blue horses – I have photos of seven of the eight blue horse sculptures around town. Oranjestad was originally named Paarden Baai (Horses Bay) in the 17th century when selling horses to Europeans was a major source of income. In 2015, this Blue Horse exhibit was created and represents an important historical moment where the horses jumped from the ship deck into the Caribbean Sea and swam to the Aruban Bay. Each horse represents a different strength and are shiny and blue as if they are still wet from the waters of the Caribbean.

    If you’d like to see photos of each of the eight, along with their names and a description of each, visit this link. They really are beautiful!

    Our Tour is Over

    We said goodbye to our local expert and decided it was time for lunch. Iguana Joe’s Caribbean Bar and Grill had a beautiful and inviting exterior, so we decided to give it a try. We were certainly not disappointed with the food OR the views!

    The elevation gave us a great view of the cruise ship port that can hold up to five cruise ships at one time. I’m not sure how often it’s full-up, but I can imagine what a zoo this city turns into if it happens often. I’m glad on this day there was only one, which had little impact on the madness of the city. With so many wonderful excursions available on the island – from snorkeling and horseback riding to four-wheeling and sight-seeing, I’m sure the crowds disperse pretty quickly.

    West Deck

    On another visit we walked in from the east to the West Deck, where just walking up to the place is a treat! But the food and drinks were also very tasty! From old, rusty boats to fabulous bird houses, we loved this place and returned both times we were here.

    Just Snooping Around

    After lunch we took a stroll along Queen’s Park to visit Wilhelmina and Anne again and walk further out to the beach of the beautiful Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino. I wasn’t sure that I should be walking out on what seemed like a private beach, but according to the link about Queen’s Park (above) a public walkway continues all along the Caribbean to the boat harbor. Looks like we’ll be coming back (at least) one more time!

    It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere!

    We had thought about taking in a movie this afternoon at the Renaissance Mall which was very near to the Park, but the one we wanted to see wasn’t showing for another couple of hours. So as we usually do, we opted for a cool beverage at the 5 o’clock Somewhere Bar & Grill at the intersection of a four-way wind tunnel to cool off.

    Fabulous Tans!

    This two-week portion of our winter road trip turned out to be fantastic, and we flew back to Florida with some fabulous tans!

    Ayo, te aworo! Goodbye, See you later!

    Next up: Back to the Sunshine State

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • It’s Party Time!

    It’s Party Time!

    We continue our escape from Wisconsin’s winter in Aruba. Let me be honest – this post contains a lot of photos that aren’t very good. Photos taken with low light, of moving parades, taken while dancing or riding a kukoo bus. Maybe you should take a minute to pour yourself a cocktail so you’ll be a little more forgiving of my failures in this post. I’ve already had one, so I can take the criticism.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    Here on Aruba, Umbrella Drinks are the Colors of the Sunset

    Although this may be inaccurate during the 2020 quarantine, the number of drinks in which I imbibe during a week at home can typically be counted on one hand. It may take two when I’m on vacation, but when I’m vacationing on Aruba – it may also require a foot or two.

    Once we survived the heart-pounding taxi-ride to the resort and the cab driver is hauling ass back to the airport for another fare… we could sense the laid-back vibe of Aruba. Once we were transported to paradise and greeted by the friendly staff at La Cabana, stress started to melt away. We did some quick unpacking and scurried down to the Caribbean for our first sunset (and drink) on Aruba. Ahhh, this is the life.

    Here on Aruba, happy hours last way longer than an hour, umbrella drinks are the colors of the sunset and comfy lounge chairs call your name. As the sun heads for the sea, folks around the pool head inside or to dinner. Since the temps only drop slightly, evenings are peaceful and quiet, and oh so relaxing.

    Aruba’s Carnival

    But if you want to liven things up, Aruba’s Carnival has been cause for celebration for more than sixty years. There is quite a line-up of events starting in November and ramping up in January and February. This year we arrived on the Monday after all of the festivities were over, which was unfortunate for two reasons. Not only did we miss the celebration, but it seems folks need to rest up (and sober up) after two months of partying. The day we arrived was considered a holiday and our cab fare from the airport included some additional holiday pay.

    The Lighting Parade

    When we were here in 2017 however, one of the final nights of carnival lined up perfectly with our friends’ arrival to join us for our second week. Although it was a long flight for them and the boys weren’t that interested in a parade, us girls decided to venture out to the streets of Aruba on our own. We took the bus and joined a large crowd for the Lighting Parade. Oranjestad looked fantastic all decked out in lights!

    Photo Ops

    Many parade members stopped along the route in their colorful, illuminated costumes for photos with spectators. We were thrilled to have a little girl in front of us who seemed to be a magnet for many of them. I don’t know if she knew them, or just liked their beautiful costumes, but it sure made for less-blurry photos when they stopped and posed.

    It Went off Without a Hitch

    We left for the parade on a whim without a whole lot of information. Although I had ridden the bus several times, I had only been to Oranjestad once at this point. According to the bus schedule, the last run was before the parade would end. Although we didn’t confirm, it seemed to make sense that busses would run late on parade nights, and worst-case we could catch a cab back home. We found a great spot to watch the parade just past the Renaissance Hotel – a short walk from the bus station. Our evening flowed easily and we were never concerned about our safe return.

    Our only real miscalculation was the wait time from the parade’s scheduled start to its arrival near us – almost at the end of the route. Turns out it was a really long parade! After asking several other spectators along the route, we determined we had plenty of time to grab a few drinks at a restaurant down the street with outside seating. We figured we could rest our feet, do a little girl-talking and people-watching and get back to our preferred location for viewing as the volume increased with the parade’s approach. It turned out to be a wonderful night and one I will never forget!!

    Rum anyone?

    Arubian Taste came highly recommended for the finest local Arubian Rum and a really fun time. We called for info and Jerome said he would pick us up at La Cabana. He and his wife Marcia applied us with LOTS of samples of their fabulous rums. Many varieties had “medicinal” properties, or a funny name or story that went along with them so we really had a great time.

    Although we decided we loved many of the 30 or so varieties that we sampled, we obviously had to trim down the number of bottles we really “needed”. Once that process was complete, Jerome knew of our plan to have dinner just across the parking lot. He said it would take a while to package our purchases for transport back to the states, so we should return after dinner.

    Red Fish is a wonderful seafood restaurant and very convenient if you’re tasting rum in the Orange Plaza Mall. The fun continued with an excellent waiter and the food and service were fantastic at Red Fish! We returned to grab our purchases and Jerome returned us to La Cabana. This turned out to be an absolutely fabulous afternoon!

    “Come on in and taste it for yourself! We have many flavors of rum including Coconut Rum, Ginger Rum, Blueberry Rum, Cranberry Rum, Raspberry Rum, Lemon Rum, Coffee Rum and the new favorite Almond Joy Rum. We also have Arubian Ponche De Crema and the Arubian Mudslide. Pre-mixed island drinks like Aruba Ariba, Arubian Sniper, Mai Tai, Hurricane and Sex on the Beach are also available (the liquors are all in one bottle, you just add juice). You’ll find our prices are reasonable and you’ll save from the cost of drinks at your resort. Buying rum in Aruba is a great way to start your vacation.” – READ MORE

    The Kukoo Bus!

    We had also heard that lots of folks had fun on the Kukoo Kunuku party bus. Since we all agreed we’re not still young, but definitely still young at heart – this should be for us!

    “Where the fun never sets! Catch the island spirit and get ready to paint the town red, on this wacky whimsical one of a kind bus. The Kukoo Kunuku is all about making new friends while having fun. Every night we cruise city streets and ramble down country roads, while shaking our maracas, in search of a great Caribbean party. Hop aboard the Kukoo Kunuku for an evening of fun and entertainment or a day full of adventure. Don’t miss the bus!” – READ MORE

    A beautifully painted party bus picked us up at La Cabana and whisked us off for our evening of island-touring and debauchery! We were one of the first stops for pickup, so we were able to access the seriousness of the evening ahead of us by observing other folks as they loaded up. Everyone seemed pretty laid back at this point, so not too many hardcores were aboard. Not sure if that was good or bad?

    Champagne and Another Sunset

    First stop was just north of Arashi Beach, where we saw one of the most beautiful sunsets of our trip. Momma – our party hostess – poured us all a glass of champagne to toast the sunset and the night ahead. Once back on the bus, Momma told us to just let go and have a great time because in her words: Nobody knows you here and nobody gives a f***. She definitely had a way with words!

    Next stop was a casual Caribbean dinner at the Casibari Music Cafe and Grill, near Paradera. A nice band was playing while we enjoyed a wonderful chicken dinner and drinks. I see starting in September of 2020, the Casibari Jazz Festival will become an annual event, which may be worth looking into if you plan a visit during that time of year.

    It’s Party Time

    From here on out, the night is kind of a blur. We bought sippy cups (shown below) for free refills and it was fun to visit different bars at night. Some were pretty busy, but others not so much. They definitely changed up the music and even included disco. That’s where they lost me.

    My favorite part of the whole evening was driving from bar to bar with our music blaring out our open windows. We yelled and waved at bystanders as the bus honked. Other vehicles honked at us and we yelled back and raised our drinks. And the roundabouts were the best! We went around the roundabouts multiple times, all the while yelling with our music blaring! One time we circled a roundabout four times!

    I think we stopped at five different bars for a total of six hours, which in my opinion was about two bars too many. It was a really good time (for a while), but it turns out I’m not the bar-hopper I once was. Momma did show us how they party on Aruba!

    Casibari Redux

    While we had the car on this year’s trip, we decided to visit the Casibari Rock Formation during the daylight. We grabbed an early lunch at the Cafe and then explored a bit around this area.

    “This rock formation is clusters of huge tonalite rocks that sit together in an area just north of Hooiberg. This rock formation, unique to the more typical features of the area, inexplicably rises up from the desert soil to create an unusual setting. Some of the rocks weigh several tons and feature peculiar forms. The Government of Aruba has created walking trails and steps through the rocks, allowing hikers to reach the top to obtain breathtaking views of the island.” – READ MORE

    Of all the islands in the Caribbean, Aruba consistently has the least rainfall – only about 15″ a year. Temperatures average in the low 80s year-round – higher in May thru October, and lower in December thru March. The vast desert landscapes are more apparent in the center of the island, and are in stark contrast to the trade-wind-swept coastal areas where it’s more humid and lush.

    For a while today, I felt like we were back in Arizona with cactus and fabulous boulders, but as soon as we arrived back at our condo on Eagle Beach, we clearly were not!

     

    Next up: The Capital City

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Up North

    Up North

    In Wisconsin, great memories come to mind when we say we’re going “up north.” I think of a cabin or pop-up camper in the woods and some time gazing out at an inland lake – or the two Great ones. There is definitely a campfire in this picture with pudgy pies, foil dinners and margaritas dispensed from our Barrel of Fun. Of course spring and summer are great months in this scenario, but I especially love the fall when trees are turning all of my favorite colors.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    Winter Can Be Fun?

    I know that plenty of Wisconsinites love Februarys up north with “the more snow the better” so their snow toys can come out of storage and all twelve months of the year can be fun. Me? I’d prefer to spend this February day up north… in Aruba!

    This post will start just north of the Palm Beach area at Arashi Beach and end at Charlie’s Bar in San Nicolas, with miles of beautiful coastline in between. The area past the California Lighthouse is totally different from what we’ve seen so far on Aruba, and the beautiful day (and the people that we spent it with) made this area very enjoyable.

    On one trip to Arashi Beach, we took the bus and got out for a while to take it all in. Since all beaches on Aruba are public, we were free to walk or sit on the white sands. At La Cabana we show them our wristbands and they grab us a lounge chair – at the other beaches we show them the money and they grab us a lounge chair. We were told this was a great swimming and snorkeling beach, but we decided today we would just gaze out at the Caribbean from a different vantage point and take in the sea air for a while. It was glorious!

    End of the Line (for the bus)

    Views to the north looked pretty tempting, but the bus doesn’t go any further up the coast. Since it looked like quite a hike, we decided we would just be patient until our friends arrived for the second week of our visit. The plan was to rent a Jeep for one day and explore the entire north side of the island.

    California Lighthouse and Beyond

    Fast Forward to the second week when we have our rental Jeep. Built in the three years between 1914 and 1916, the California Lighthouse has become a landmark that stands near the northwestern tip of Aruba. This point of land is called California – named after the ship that crashed into the island on its journey from Liverpool to Central America many years ago. Standing 100 feet tall on this high point of land, this old stone lighthouse offers picture-perfect 360° views of the island from its lantern room – up 123 steps.

    Also at this point, the old lighthouse keeper’s dwelling has been transformed into a fabulous restaurant. Faro Blanco offers “The best of Italy surrounded by a century of Aruban Antiquity.”

    “For over 20 years Faro Blanco Restaurant has been offering guests the best of Italy in Aruba. Renowned for our unsurpassed culinary masterpieces, years of experience in authentic Italian cuisine, a reputation of excellence, breathtaking views and the utmost warm Aruban service. Our charming restaurant is truly a hidden gem atop of the hill of Hudishibana at the foot of Aruba’s famous California Lighthouse Landmark.” – READ MORE

    Although we didn’t eat here on the day we rented the jeep, we returned by cab several days later. The views are truly spectacular, and the food and service are just as good. Be sure to check sunset time and make your reservation a little earlier so you can be all settled in by the time the sun starts its descent. You won’t regret it.

    The North Shore

    As we continue along the north shore, the landscape changes dramatically. The fabulous white sand beaches of the west side of the island are replaced by washed up seaweed, what looks like lava, and rocks of all shapes and sizes. Bring sturdy shoes because it gets a little treacherous at some points. The sea is less turquoise on this side, more of a radiant blue but equally as beautiful. If it weren’t for that radiant blue water, we may have thought that we landed on Mars!

    Smoothie Time!

    Along the way, there are huts serving refreshments like smoothies (would you like that spiked?), fresh fruit and bottled water. Multi-colored school buses are all the rage here, offering tours of the island and bar-hopping party tours. We’ll talk more about that in the next post.

    “The present Chapel of Alto Vista was completed in 1952 and stands in the same location as the original chapel, which was built by Domingo Silvestre, the Venezuelan missionary from Santa Ana de Coro, Venezuela, in 1750. The Alto Vista Chapel was stated to be the location where conversion of Aruban Indians to Christianity started.” – READ MORE

    So Beautiful

    This would have been a beautiful area with our bag chairs and the afore-mentioned Barrel of Fun-full of ritas. The volcanic rock was in stark contrast to the spray of the gorgeous sea water.

    In case you’re wondering where some Arubans go to vacation, this side of the island has small dwellings dotted along the shore that are free for the locals to use for getaways. Although pretty primitive, you can’t beat the view. The osprey seems to like it too.

    Lots of Room to Play

    Up north in Aurba has one thing in common with up north in Wisconsin – lots of room to play. Jeeps, four-wheelers and horses are just a few of the ways to explore the island. Riders wear bandanas over their noses and mouths to protect from the dusty conditions and they come away caked with dirt. We rolled up our windows at one point as the cloud of dust swept over our Jeep. They were sure having fun, but I was comfortable watching from the sidelines.

    Fabulous Finds

    We picked up lots of unique and beautiful shells, which makes any trip to the beach complete. The heart-shaped rock below was unique and well-placed, where it should be protected from the elements. Most rocks were smooth from years of being tumbled in the sea and lapped by the waves. Another similarity to Wisconsin? Rock stacking seems to be a pastime here too. In Wisconsin it’s meant to wish visitors safe travels.

    Baby Bridge

    After Aruba’s larger Natural Bridge collapsed, this smaller one – Baby Bridge – moved up the list of great things to see. There are more bridges along Aruba’s northeastern shore, but we didn’t explore that far east. Maybe next time!

    “On the northern coast sits the abandoned Bushiribana gold mill that once processed ore from mines in the nearby hills during Aruba’s gold rush of the nineteenth century.” – READ MORE

    Love this View!

    The photo below shows the area near the original Natural Bridge and is one of my favorite photos of the trip.

    “The Aruba Natural Bridge was a tourist attraction in Aruba that was formed naturally out of coral limestone. It collapsed on September 2, 2005 due to extensive damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. The natural arch, measuring approximately 25 feet high and 100 feet long, was the remnant of an ancient cave.” – READ MORE

    Baby Beach

    As we made our way southeast, we arrived at Baby Beach. Donkeys greeted us, and folks with kites were enjoying another gorgeous day. Click on the link below for an aerial photo of the beach that is fantastic! We were not that impressed by Baby Beach, but then we are staying right across the street from Eagle Beach, so it’s all relative I guess.

    “Take in spectacular ocean views and indulge in shallow, crystal clear water at this magnificent paradise, Baby Beach. Famous Baby Beach in the southern part of Aruba, close to San Nicolas, is a true Caribbean beach paradise. This gorgeous half-moon sandy expanse in a calm lagoon is ideal for families with small kids.

    The shallow waters make it a prime beach destination for swimmers who like to wade out for a long distance and still touch the sea bottom. Where the bay opens out to the ocean, Baby Beach also offers the perfect location for snorkeling; for your safety please stay within the marked snorkel area.” – READ MORE

    I’ve heard that Big Mama Grill is a great place to eat but since our plan was to eat at our next stop, we didn’t partake.

    Interesting Town

    We made our way down to Sint Nicolaas. We had heard stories that this area was the “other side of the tracks”, but those stories made us want to visit it more. We were told that there was a restaurant/bar that should not be missed, so we set out to give it a try. On our way there, we had an “incident” that we laugh about every time we talk about Aruba with our friends who were with us.

    On our first pass to find the restaurant, we missed it so we went up an alley to give it another go. We had to pause a bit for some reason and a man came over to speak to Jim and John in the front seat. He pointed to a woman who was sitting on a step and said she was available if they were so inclined. After Jim’s refusal, the man said a few vulgar words meaning they didn’t know what they were missing. Then he noticed Laurie and I in the backseat. Needless to say, he said his goodbyes.

    It was broad daylight and we didn’t feel unsafe in any way, but that’s just not a common occurrence where we come from – not that it is in most places. Here in the oil refining town of Sint Nicolaas, prostitution has been legal since the 1920s, has been regulated by the government since 1928, and now under careful scrutiny of the public health department. So I guess it has that going for it.

    Charlies Bar and Restaurant turned out to be a great place, with license plates from all over the world, and many from the U.S. We had a great lunch and a beer and headed on our way back to La Cabana. Well, that was an experience!

     

    This turned out to be a fantastic day, with lots of scenery, a few laughs and a mouthful of dust! Gosh I love Aruba!

    Up next: It’s Party Time!

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Exploring Aruba

    Exploring Aruba

    Aruba is outside the hurricane belt and consistently receives the least rainfall in the Southern Caribbean, so you can expect excellent weather no matter what time of year you visit. Whether you’re looking to relax and unwind or seek adventure and excitement, Aruba is bursting with incredible things to do. ~ from aruba.com/us

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Dodging the Deep Freeze 2020.

    Once Apprehensive, Now Convinced!

    Aruba is a long way to travel, but if you enjoy relaxing (swimming) outdoors in February – there are very few guarantees in the continental United States. Although 2019’s brutal winter may be an extreme example, our trip southwest offered very few opportunities to bask in the sun. Our swimsuits remained packed for the duration of our trip, and most of the time we were looking for sweatshirts – even our stashed winter coats.

    “Drink, Dine, Relax, Repeat” refers to several things that made us apprehensive about taking a trip to this tiny island three years ago, but it goes on to say that we forgot all of those objections once we got settled in. We loved it so much that we gave it another go this February with cheap, nonstop airfare from Fort Lauderdale.

    Aruba is an island in the southern Caribbean just eighteen miles north of Venezuela. Just twenty miles long and six miles wide, Aruba is part of the Dutch Caribbean. La Cabana is located right across the road from Eagle Beach – way left and just above the white cruise ship in the photo. Both cruise ships on the map are headed to the island’s capital city of Oranjestad and/or the airport.

    Many hours have been spent on Eagle Beach and we may be biased, but we think it’s the best beach on Aruba. It’s certainly the most convenient! Walk across the road (with a stop at the drink hut!) and there you’ll find the most beautiful turquoise water and white sugary sands imaginable! So while we’re in Aruba expect lots of photos of umbrella drinks and pink toenails in the sand.

    Get Out and Explore!

    Between the restaurants onsite and nearby, a person could probably just stay at the resort for the duration of their stay, but what would be the fun in that? After a couple of days we started to wonder what the rest of the island had in store for us.

    We only rented a car for one day on each of our trips because the bus was easy to master and several cab rides were much cheaper than a car rental for two weeks. Plus, it’s much more relaxing to have someone else do the driving, especially if drinking is part of the plan. The local cab drivers are very friendly and prices are set, so you know how much it will cost before you leave.

    The bus stop is just north of La Cabana, which is very convenient for outings along the coast to Arashi Beach, and south and east all the way to Baby Beach. The interior routes get a little dicey and no bus gets all the way to the northern coast, so we opted to rent a car when exploring those areas. We brought along a credit card with no conversion fees, but I think every place we visited took US dollars. It helped to have small bills since change comes back in Aruban florins.

    Bubali Bird Sanctuary, Palm Beach

    Today we headed just a tad north. Also called the high rise hotel area, the two-mile stretch of Palm Beach is chock-full of restaurants, shopping, tall birds, a pirate adventure and (of course) some huge hotels. After a short bus ride, we got out at the first Palm Beach bus stop. From there it was a short walk to the Bubali Bird Sanctuary.

    Not Many Birds in this Sanctuary

    Less-attractive birds must not be allowed inside, because there were quite a few outside and they were not pretty. I got a kick of out of the cute couple sitting close on the fallen tree in the first photo below. You know the saying – love is blind! I know that all of God’s creatures are beautiful – although some more than others!

    Once inside I was a little surprised by the lack of birds at this “sanctuary”. Another huge hotel is going up to the west and I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, or whether I just had bad luck today. The pretty ducky in the next photo and its mate were the only birds inside the sanctuary.

    Even with a lack of birds, it was still a nice walk to the tower that offered birds-eye views of Aruba and La Cabana in the distance.

    The Old Dutch Windmill

    The Old Dutch Windmill (De Oude Molen) was built in Friesland, the Netherlands in 1804. After years of storms and neglect, in 1960 it was purchased, disassembled, and shipped to Aruba – nearly 5,000 miles. Carefully reassembled, it now serves as one of Aruba’s most authentic landmarks and a historic reminder of Aruba’s Dutch influences.

    It’s only fitting that a Dutch pancake house would be right next door to the windmill! “Diana’s Pancakes are the real deal – thinner than American pancakes, a little thicker than crêpes, but as big as your dinner plate and very tasty.” Unfortunately we did not go there. Either time. Dammit.

    Back into Palm Beach

    We walked back out of Bubali and continued into the Palm Beach area where massive hotels provided beautiful landscaping with gnarly trees and cacti. The pretty birds came on their own.

    We continued our walk into the more populated area just in time for lunch. Although there are a lot of restaurants to choose from, Salt and Pepper is one of our favorite lunch spots. I wouldn’t want to be around on dusting day, because this place is full of salt and pepper shakers from around the world – but the food is delicious! There are also plenty of venues for souvenirs, as well as more serious shopping with higher price tags.

    The Salinas

    Several days after our trip to Bubali, I saw a post on Facebook by a man who had fabulous photos of birds there, as well as in the salinas (salt marshes) that are close-by in Noord. We decided to check out the salinas on the day we had the car, and were pleased that this area was more well-stocked! Jim quickly pulled over alongside the marsh for better photos of quite a variety of wading birds and followed me down the road on the wide shoulder.

    In the last two photos construction of the huge hotel seen from Bubali could be seen here, but these birds didn’t seem to mind. They were so busy and so interesting that they took my mind off the concern for the urban sprawl and how yet another huge hotel will affect the quaintness of this beautiful island.

    A Sail with the Jolly Pirates

    On our first trip here we sailed with the Jolly Pirates on a sunset cruise. Since we arrived a little early, we got checked in and ventured over to the bar that was within shouting distance so we wouldn’t miss the boat. As you would expect on Aruba, it was a beautiful evening for a cruise and we were getting very excited!

    The Caribbean was as smooth as glass and we could finally see our boat anchored a short distance from the dock. We loaded up in small boats and were transported to our pirate ship. As we set sail, folks were having a blast in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.

    Permission to Board

    The Jolly Pirates’ teak schooner skimmed along the beautiful Aruban coast, with gentle trade winds filling our sails. With unlimited beverages from the ship’s open bar, we could toast this day, this vacation, and this fabulous island.

    We reached a quiet cove, where many folks tried their hands at swinging off the pirate rope into the beautiful turquoise water. The music played and our boat-mates cheered as people perfected their cannonballs, jumped and twisted – some landing rather precariously. It was really a lot of fun!

    A Little Help Here

    Soon, the boat-hands were helping others to do flips and other acrobatics by having them hold on tight after instructions on timing and the landing. There was no lack of volunteers for the tasks at hand! We could tell by the smiles on their faces that these guys love their jobs!

    Don’t Miss the Sunset

    There are several different lengths of cruises with the Jolly Pirates and some include snorkeling. Click on the link for more information and some fabulous videos of their adventures!

     

    That about does it for the Palm Beach area. We made some great memories here, and we hope to return again soon.

    Up next: Up North

    Happy trails,
    Barb